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Overview

For nearly half a century the charismatic, strikingly handsome spiritual teacher J. Krishnamurti gathered an enormous following throughout Europe, India, Australia and North America. From the age of eighteen he was the forerunner of the type of iconoclasm that would bring immediate fame to cult figures in the late twentieth century. Yet recent biographies have left large areas of his life in mystifying darkness.

This, however, is no ordinary study of Krishnamurti, for it is written by one whose earliest memories are dominated by his presence as a doting second father-tolerant of pranks and pets, playful and diligent. For over two decades in their OjaiCalifornia haven, where Aldous Huxley and other pacifists found respite during the war years,'Krinsh' developed his philosophical message. He also placed himself at the centre of her parents' Rosalind and Rajagopal's marriage.

In a spirit of tenderness, fairness, objective inquiry, and no little remorse, the author traces the rise of Krishnamurti from obscurity in India by selection of the Theosophical Society to be the vehicle of a new incarnation of their world teacher. Breaking from Theosophy, Krishnamurti inspired his own following, retaining the dedication of his longtime friend Rajagopal, himself highly educated, to oversee all practicalities and the editing and publication of his writings.

How this bond of trust was breached and became clouded in confusion with a new wave of devoteeism lies at the heart of this extraordinary story. So does a portrait of intense romantic intimacy and the conundrum of Krishnamurti's own complex character.

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Lives in the Shadow with J. Krishnamurti 4.1 out of 5based on
0 ratings.
7 reviews.

eprophet

More than 1 year ago

It's not easy to achieve objectivity when one has grown up in a tradition. But this book achieves a surprisingly objective stance.
Krishnamurti was recognized in the Theosophical tradition, repudiated his role as world teacher, and went on to become a well-known spiritual teacher in his own right. I am impressed with Ms. Sloss's ability to critically examine his tradition without discarding its meaningful contributions. Although she never professed Krishnamurti's teachings herself, her father was his chief editor and manager, and she grew up literally in his shadow, in a close family relationship with the man she called &quot;Krinsh&quot; as a young girl. The book deals largely with the double-life led by Krishnamurti as he sought family and normalcy in a sexual relationship with her mother, largely overlooked by her father. While maintaining a facade of celibacy expected by his Theosophically and Hindu-influenced followers, he sought intimacy with the wife of his close friend. The strains and deceptions caused by this arrangement are laid out well in the book, which does not however neglect Krishnamurti's genuine contributions to and influence in among the many people who sought some kind of coherence after the difficulties besetting the society's many factions after the decline of Besant and Leadbeater's leadership. The book bogs down a bit at the end with the unfortunate legal struggles that became the denoument of this family group. But the author remains sensitive to all sides of this painful conflict until the end. I bought this book at the Theosophical History Conference in London. I think it shows strength and health when a tradition can look critically at its own history and assess the future based on the past.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

There is much that is fascinating about this book, but as a truthful account of the life of Krishnamurti (K)it leaves much out and is suspect as a diatribe against "the guru." Whenever possible, Mrs. Sloss denigrates K, while extolling her parents. But it was not K who told Rosalind on Radha's birth that they no longer needed to have intimate relations, it was her father, who chose to live apart in Hollywood and who, as K's business agent, misdirected a great deal of the money meaant to go to advancing K's teachings. The fact that Rosalind "hooked up" with Krishnamurti was completely understandable, as the two were obviously far more in love than Radha's father or mother ever were. Radha just could not bear to see this, and apparently still can't.

Having been a devoted student of J Krishnamurti, I was severely saddened by this account of his life. The book is rife with lurid details of J Krishnamuti's defilement. Sadly, he kept a 35 year love affair with the married writer, which resulted in her having several secret abortions. Her husband was JK's personal secretary. JK's ego was out of control. His affection for himself, fast cars, and Hollywood are a nasty story. His life was filled with fear, hence his knowledge of it. Another corrupt Guru. Too, too bad.

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Aryel Sanat's meticulously researched and cogently argued exploration of Krishnamurti's inner life and experiences explodes
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When Krishnamurti's Notebook first became available in 1976, it was soon realized that it was
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‘The material contained in this volume was originally presented in the form of talks to
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To Be Human presents Krishnamurti's radical vision of life in a new way. At the
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